Yarn coating system

ABSTRACT

A method and system for coating yarn ends or the like on the entire outer surface so as to prepare the yarn for subsequent textile treatments and/or change the characteristics of the same. The yarn end is moved in a direction generally along its axis transversely across a narrow, elongated surface of the coating liquid and as it moves across the surface of the coating liquid, the yarn end is rolled so that the coating liquid is precisely applied to the entire outer surface of the yarn end. The system and method may be utilized with existing textile equipment, such as spinning, twisting and roving frames or winding machines and the like, without material modification to such equipment.

United States Patent Mar. 14, 1972 [54] YARN COATING SYSTEM [72]inventor: Raymond D. Joy, Clarksville, Va.

[73] Assignee: Burlington Industries, Inc., Greensboro,

[22] Filed: June 2, 1969 211 Appl. No.: 829,220

- [52] U.S.Cl ..1l8/l23, [18/410,118/420 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05c 3/12, B05c11/02 [58] Field oiSearch ..1l8/420,410,41l,123,D1G.l9; 68/200; 57/35;28/59 Killeen ..1 18/411 Jones ..118/420 ABSTRACT A method and systemfor coating yarn ends or the like on the entire outer surface so as toprepare the yarn for subsequent textile treatments and/or change thecharacteristics of the same. The yam end is moved in a directiongenerally along its axis transversely across a narrow, elongated surfaceof the coating liquid and as it moves across the surface of the coatingliquid, the yarn end is rolled so that the coating liquid is preciselyapplied to the entire outer surface of the yarn end. The system andmethod may be utilized with existing textile equipment, such asspinning, twisting and roving frames or winding machines and the like,without material modification to such equipment.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures amnted f lm-db 14-, 1%72 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Mented March 14, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 YARN COATING SYSTEM The presentinvention relates to an improved system for coating yarn ends or thelike with a coating liquid so that the same can be prepared forsubsequent textile treatments and/or changes in its physicalcharacteristics.

PRIOR ART Heretofore, many different processes and apparatuses have beenused to prepare yarn for subsequent textile treatments and/or forchanging the characteristics of the yarn for a particular end use. Insome instances the yarn was completely immersed in a bath of liquid andthis treatment required draining of excess liquid therefrom andutilization of drying equipment since the yarn was usually saturated.Oftentimes the resulting coating was not uniform and thus interferedwith subsequent treatments of the yarn, as well as providing a variationin finishes of the resulting end products. In other instances where itwas desired to coat the yarn with a particular coating material insteadof applying the coating in liquid form, the yarn was passed over thecoating material in solid state, for example wax or the like, in aneffort to pick up some of the material on the yarn. Special equipmentwas required and constant maintenance of the equipment was necessary ifanything like a uniform coating was to result.

None of the various processes and apparatuses used for coating yarn wereparticularly adaptable for use in or with existing textile machinerysuch as winding machines and spinning, twisting and roving frames.Additionally, such prior processes and systems wasted a good amount ofthe coating material as either too much was applied initially and the excess had to be removed, or too much was lost in the actual applicationof the coating material to the yarn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, yarn endsor the like, are coated with a material in liquid form, the coatingbeing accomplished by the end being moved across the surface of a narrowelongated path of a desired coating liquid, and while being moved acrosssuch surface, the end is rolled or rotated so that its outer surface isuniformly and completely coated. More particularly, the coating liquidis supplied to the path in a metered amount, dependent on the speed ofthe end across the same, and of the ends pick up capabilities, so thatonly an amount of liquid substantially equal to the amount picked up isreplaced in the path, thereby eliminating waste of the coating liquid.The method and system of the present invention may be easilyincorporated into existing textile machinery without major modificationof such machinery, as the method and system is independently operableand incorporates means for collecting excess coating liquid dischargedwhen the textile machinery is inoperative or when no yarn end isactually being coated. t

The yarn may be coated with any of a various number of materials inliquid form, depending upon the subsequent textile treatments to beaccomplished and/or depending upon whether or not certain physicalcharacteristics of the yarn are desired to be changed. For example,certain textile equipment used in subsequent textile processes requirethe yarn to be lubricated and therefore oil or wax emulsions may be usedas the coating liquid. In other situations, it may be necessary to tintor dye the yarn before subsequent textile treatment of the same, and inthese situations tint and dye emulsions may be used as the coatingliquid. Where it is necessary to provide a twist setting conditioner tothe yarn, or in some instances to change the physical characteristics ofthe yarn, such as increasing the tensile strength by elongation of thefibers, then oils, wetting agents, such as water, or an emulsion of soapand water, or polymers or polymer solution such as polyvinyl alcohol, orsolvents, may be used as the coating liquid to relax the tightly twistedfibers, or otherwise change the fibers. Sometimes it is desirable toapply a size coating such as starch or the like to the yarn to reducescuffing and pilling of the outer surface fibers of the same insubsequent treatments, and in this instance, size in liquid form may becoated to the exterior of the yarn.

In each instance of the application of the coating to the yarn end bythe abovementioned materials, the system or apparatus of the presentinvention results in just a sheath coating on the entire outer surfaceof the yarn end, without the coating permeating the entire body of theyarn end. This results because the coating liquid is effectively wipedonto the yarn ends outer surface, without the yarn end being completelysubmerged into the liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above advantages of the present:invention will be more apparent in the following specification, claimsand drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schemmatic side view of one system for accomplishing themethod of the present invention, the system being incorporated in atypical winding machine;

FIG. 2 is a schemmatic top fragmentary plan view of the system of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view partly in elevation and takensubstantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, the view illustrating thetube-like applicator for the coating liquid;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3, theview additionally showing the means for collecting excess coatingliquid;

FIG. 5 is a schemmatic side view of a modification of the system ofFIGS. 1-4, the system being illustrated as incorporated in a textileframe such as a spinning, twisting, or roving frame;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the balloon ring taken in thedirection of the arrow 6 of FIG. 5, the view eliminating the bobbin,traversing ring and traveller for purposes of clariy;

FIG. 7 is a large vertical sectional view taken on the line 7- 7 of FIG.5 and illustrating the balloon ring; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a transverse ring and thetraveller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawingswherein like character or reference numerals represent like or similarparts, an improved system for accomplishing the method of the presentinvention is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 in association with aconventional winding machine generally designated at 10. The windingmachine 10 is utilized to unwind yarn from a supply package 12, such asa cake, or the like, the yarn then being wound onto a take-up package14, such as a cone, bobbin or the like. In this respect the yarn end Eis drawn off of the supply package 12 and is passed upwardly through apigtail eye 16, from which it then travels to, and is wound onto, thetake-up package 14, the take-up package being rotated by a positivelydriven wind-up roll 18. The unwinding of the yarn end E from the supplypackage 12 provides some twisting action to the yarn end so that, ineffect, the yarn end will roll about its axis as it passes from thepigtail eye 16 onto the takeup package 14. Of course, the traversing ofthe yarn end E back and forth onto the take-up package 114 will also, ineffect, assist in the rolling or twisting of the yarn end E, in itsmovement between the broken line positions for the yarn end, as shown inFIG. 2.

The improved system and method of the present invention is incorporatedinto the winding machine at a suitable point, such as intermediate thepigtail eye 16 and the take-up package 14, where the yarn end istraversing back and forth in a plane. In more detail, and referring nowto FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, the system of the present invention includestube-like liquid coating applicator member 20 fixedly supported beneath,but in contact with, the yarn end E, travelling between the pigtail eye16 and the take-up package M, the axis of the tube-like member beingsubstantially horizontal and generally transverse to the direction ofmovement of the yarn end E. The tube-like applicator member 20, as bestshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is hollow with its interior defining a liquidchamber 22. An elongated narrow trough 24 is provided in the upperportion of the exterior of the applicator member 20, and it is over thistrough that the yarn end E passes. The trough 24, which has its axisparallel to the axis of the tubelike member 20, extends generallytransverse of the direction of movement of the end E over the same, thusthe trough defines a narrow, elongated path of liquid presenting asurface for contact with the exterior of the yarn end. The trough 24communicates with the chamber 22 by means of one or more orifices 26,opening into the bottom of the trough.

One end of the tube-like applicator member 20 is closed, as indicated at28, whereas the other end is connected by a fitting 30 to supply conduit32, leading from a manifold 34. The conduit 32 includes a restrictor 36therein, which provides a means of metering the desired coating liquidsupplied under pressure from the manifold 34 into the chamber 22 of thetube-like member 20. The manifold 34 is in turn suitably connected to acoating liquid supply tank 38 by a conduit 39, the liquid L in the tankbeing placed under a predetermined pressure by supplying compressed airthrough a line 40 to the upper portion thereof. In more detail, the airsupply line 40 is provided with a gauge 42 and a selectively operablepressure regulator 44. By controlling the pressure in the upper portionof the tank 38 to a predetermined value, the metered flow of coatingliquid through the restrictor 36, into the tube-like applicator member20, can be controlled so that a predetermined amount can be dischargedfrom the chamber 22 into the trough 24, the amount discharged beingadjusted to an amount sufficient to replace the amount coated onto theyarn E passing over the top of the trough in contact with the surface ofliquid therein. This reduces the overflow waste of coating liquid L whenactual coating of the end E is being accomplished and also provides aprecise quantity of coating for the yarn end E.

When no yarn end E is passing across the trough 24 and is being coatedby liquid therein, liquid will still be discharged into the trough,causing the same to flow over the edge and run down the exterior of thetube-like member 20. In order to collect this excess liquid, a U-shapedmanifold 46 is positioned under and in alignment with the tube-likeapplicator member 20 to catch the overflow. Manifold 46 is provided witha drain 48 communicating by means of a conduit 50 with a collection tank52.

As is conventional, a winding frame usually has a plurality of stationsthereon, so that a plurality of supply packages 12 can be unwoundsimultaneously and respectively wound onto a plurality of take-uppackages 14. Consequently, at each station of the winding machine 10 itis necessary to place one of the tube-like applicator members 20, thesame being connected to the common manifold 34, for receiving a supplyof coating liquid at a predetermined metered rate therefrom. Forsimplicity purposes, the manifold 46 is made to extend under each of theplurality of the tube-like applicator members 20, the manifold 46collecting excess liquid from any of the particular applicators anddepositing the same into the common collection tank 52.

A planar plate member 54 is fixedly secured to the tube-like applicatormember 20, the plate member extending from the discharge side or edge ofthe trough 24 in a plane common to the top edge of the trough so thatthe yarn end E, after being coated with the liquid, passes in contactwith the plate member. As previously explained, the yarn end E, whilemoving in a general direction of its axis, is also traversing back andforth along the length of the trough 24, thus having a rolling actionand consequently, since it is also in contact with the plate-like member54, the coating liquid will be further evenly distributed about theentire surface of the yarn end.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8 inclusive, there is a modification of thesystem shown in FIGS. 14 for also utilizing the method of the presentinvention. In more detail, the system is shown incorporated in a textileframe such as a spinning, twisting or roving frame. The textile frame isgenerally designated at 70 and includes a take-up package 14, which inthis case is a bobbin mounted on a spindle and onto which the yarn end Eis to be wound. The bobbin may be suitably rotated and, as isconventional, in such a frame 70 there is provided a traversing ring 72having the usual traveller 74 rotating about the traversing ring at ahigh rate of speed as the package 14 is being formed from the yarn endE. The yarn end is shown passing through a pair of front drawer rollers76 and 78 and from there downwardly through the usual pigtail 80. Sincethe end E is travelling at a relatively high rate of speed, as well asbeing orbited by the traveller 74, rotating about the traversing ring72, the yarn end will have a tendency to balloon between the pigtail 80and the traversing ring 72.

Usually such frames 70 are provided with a balloon control ring 82, theballoon control ring suitably positioned to limit ballooning. In thesystem of the present invention the balloon control ring 82 is utilizedas an applicator for applying a coating liquid to the yarn end B. Asshown in FIG. 5, the balloon control ring 82 is suitably fixedly mountedon a standard 84 above the spindle on which the bobbin 14 is mounted andthis annular ring confines the balloon of the yarn end E against itsinner surface.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the balloon control ring82 is provided with an annular interior groove 86 defining a chamber forthe coating liquid. In the particular environment shown, the groove 86is formed in a member 88 which may be metallic or plastic, the member 88being annular and fixedly supported with the balloon control ring 82 todefine the inner surface thereof. An annular slit or orifice 90 isprovided in the member 88 and it provides communication between theinterior of the chamber or groove 86 and the interior surface of thering over which the yarn end E passes, so that the coating liquid withinthe chamber can be discharged through the orifice or slit. In otherwords, the annular elongated slit or orifice 88 defines an elongatedthin or narrow path for the coating liquid which presents a surface ofsuch liquid to the yarn end E passing over the interior surface of theballoon control ring 82.

As shown in FIG. 7, a restrictor passageway 36' communicates with theinterior groove 86, the restrictor passageway 36' functioning as ametering means for metering coating liquid to the groove or chamber andfrom the slit or orifice 88. The restrictor passageway 36' communicatesthrough a conduit 32' to a manifold 34 identical with the manifolddescribed in connection with FIGS. l-4 inclusive. The manifold 34communicates with the coating liquid supply tank 38, the tank 38 beingpressurized in an identical manner to that previously described.

The control of coating liquid from the supply tank 38 to the manifold 34from which it is metered to the chamber defined by the groove 86 anddischarged therefrom through the slit 90 is identical to that previouslydescribed in that the rate of flow is such that the supply into thegroove 86 is only sufficient to replace the amount of coating liquidpick-up by the yarn E as it passes over the annular slit or orifice 90.The yarn end E, in passing over the slit or orifice 90, will be orbitingin continuous contact with such slit, rather than back and forth asdescribed in connection with FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, but the yarn end E isstill rolling or rotating about its axis as it is advanced through theballoon control ring 82 to the traveller 74 and onto the take-up packageor bobbin 14. Thus, a precise amount of coating liquid is applied to theentire outer surface of the yarn end.

Balloon control ring 82 is provided with a second annular groove 92positioned beneath the orifice or slit 90. The groove 92 is open to theinterior surface of the balloon control ring 82 and thus functions as acollection chamber for any coating liquid which may run down theinterior surface from the slit 90, when no yarn end E is passingthereover. At least one drain passage 94 communicates with the secondgroove 92 and extends to a drain manifold 96, which in turn is connectedto a collection tank 52.

As will be appreciated, textile frames, like winding machines, areprovided with a plurality of stations for operating on a plurality ofyarn ends E simultaneously, and consequently, by utilizing the manifold34 and the manifold 96, the same supply tank 38 and collection tank 52respectively may be used for each balloon control ring at the variousstations.

The terminology used throughout the specification is for the purpose ofdescription, the scope of the invention being defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A system for uniformly coating the entire outer surface of a yarn endwith a coating liquid comprising:

a liquid applicator including a tube defining a chamber for the coatingliquid and having a substantially horizontal axis, said tube having anelongated trough extending axially on the upper exterior portionthereof, said trough being in communication with said chamber and filledwith coating liquid therefrom to define a thin elongated surface area ofcoating liquid;

means for moving the yarn end axially of its length transversely acrossthe trough in contact with said tube and with said elongated surfacearea of liquid, said means also simultaneously moving the yarn end backand forth along the length of the trough to cause the yarn end to roll;

a source of supply for said coating liquid;

means to meter the coating liquid from said source of supply to saidchamber at a predetermined rate at least sufficient to replace coatingliquid applied to the yarn end; and

a planar plate member fixedly attached to said tube along the side ofsaid trough from which the yarn end is discharged, said planar platemember having an upper surface extending in a plane substantiallytangential to said tube adjacent said trough, said planar plate memberbeing at least as wide as the length of said trough whereby the yarn endin its back and forth movement is always in contact with said platemember so that the coating liquid picked up by the yarn end is evenlydistributed about the outer surface of the same.

2. A system as claimed in claim il, in which said source of supply ofliquid is under a predetermined pressure.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, including means to selectivelyvary the predetermined pressure of liquid in said source of supply,whereby said metering means may be selectively controlled to thepredetermined rate of flow of liquid to said chamber.

41. A system as claimed in claim 3, including means positioned beneathsaid liquid applicator for collecting excess liquid discharged therefromwhen no yarn end is running over said trough.

5. A system as claimed in claim ll, in which said yarn end moving meansincludes a winding machine having a supply package, a takeup package andmeans to rotate said takeup package to draw the yarn end from said.supply package;

said liquid applicator being positioned intermediate said packages.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, in which said means to supply liquidunder pressure to the chamber of said tube includes metering means and apressure regulator selectively operable to control metering of liquid bysaid metering means to the chamber of the tube and from the chamber to apredetermined rate.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said planar plate member issubstantially trapazoidal in plan elevation and diverges from said tube.

1. A system for uniformly coating the entire outer surface of a yarn endwith a coating liquid comprising: a liquid applicator including a tubedefining a chamber for the coating liquid and having a substantiallyhorizontal axis, said tube having an elongated trough extending axiallyon the upper exterior portion thereof, said trough being incommunication with said chamber and filled with coating liquid therefromto define a thin elongated surface area of coating liquid; means formoving the yarn end axially of its length transversely across the troughin contact with said tube and with said elongated surface area ofliquid, said means also simultaneously moving the yarn end back andforth along the length of the trough to cause the yarn end to roll; asource of supply for said coating liquid; means to meter the coatingliquid from said source of supply to said chamber at a predeterminedrate at least sufficient to replace coating liquid applied to the yarnend; and a planar plate member fixidly attached to said tube along theside of said trough from which the yarn end is discharged, said planarplate member having an upper surface extending in a plane substantiallytangential to said tube adjacent said trough, said planar plate memberbeing at least as wide as the length of said trough whereby the yarn endin its back and forth movement is always in contact with said platemember so that the coating liquid picked up by the yarn end is evenlydistributed about the outer surface of the same.
 2. A system as claimedin claIm 1, in which said source of supply of liquid is under apredetermined pressure.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, includingmeans to selectively vary the predetermined pressure of liquid in saidsource of supply, whereby said metering means may be selectivelycontrolled to the predetermined rate of flow of liquid to said chamber.4. A system as claimed in claim 3, including means positioned beneathsaid liquid applicator for collecting excess liquid discharged therefromwhen no yarn end is running over said trough.
 5. A system as claimed inclaim 1, in which said yarn end moving means includes a winding machinehaving a supply package, a take-up package and means to rotate saidtake-up package to draw the yarn end from said supply package; saidliquid applicator being positioned intermediate said packages.
 6. Asystem as claimed in claim 1, in which said means to supply liquid underpressure to the chamber of said tube includes metering means and apressure regulator selectively operable to control metering of liquid bysaid metering means to the chamber of the tube and from the chamber tothe trough at a predetermined rate.
 7. A system as claimed in claim 1wherein said planar plate member is substantially trapazoidal in planelevation and diverges from said tube.